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Homeless woman says she stole so she could get medical care in jail

Staff report

Published: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 4:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 4:38 p.m.

OCALA - A woman who told an officer she had been living out of her sport utility vehicle for months in a Wal-Mart parking lot and stole from the store was arrested Monday and charged with retail theft.

Debra Smith McCullough, 56, told officials she has no job or health insurance, has been sick for several years and is unable to get medical treatment, according to Ocala police.

She reportedly said she had been taking food and hygiene products from the store at 2600 S.W. 19th Ave. Road for the last several weeks and did so because she could get medical care at the jail.

The items taken, she said, had no value to her.

A loss prevention employee told an officer that surveillance video from Sunday showed McCullough take a Hewlett Packard computer, two digital Kodak picture frames, a Dell touch screen computer and a computer printer, place them in bags and exit the store. The merchandise was valued at $1,953.58.

On Monday, McCullough returned to the store and was seen putting goods from the deli, some muffins, a radio, bedding and dog collars, all worth $291.82, in a shopping cart, according to police. As she reportedly tried to walk out without paying, she was detained.

McCullough told police the items taken Sunday were in her SUV in the parking lot. The goods were recovered.

<p>OCALA - A woman who told an officer she had been living out of her sport utility vehicle for months in a Wal-Mart parking lot and stole from the store was arrested Monday and charged with retail theft.</p><p>Debra Smith McCullough, 56, told officials she has no job or health insurance, has been sick for several years and is unable to get medical treatment, according to Ocala police.</p><p>She reportedly said she had been taking food and hygiene products from the store at 2600 S.W. 19th Ave. Road for the last several weeks and did so because she could get medical care at the jail.</p><p>The items taken, she said, had no value to her.</p><p>A loss prevention employee told an officer that surveillance video from Sunday showed McCullough take a Hewlett Packard computer, two digital Kodak picture frames, a Dell touch screen computer and a computer printer, place them in bags and exit the store. The merchandise was valued at $1,953.58.</p><p>On Monday, McCullough returned to the store and was seen putting goods from the deli, some muffins, a radio, bedding and dog collars, all worth $291.82, in a shopping cart, according to police. As she reportedly tried to walk out without paying, she was detained.</p><p>McCullough told police the items taken Sunday were in her SUV in the parking lot. The goods were recovered.</p><p>She was arrested and taken to the jail.</p><p><i>- Austin L. Miller</i></p>